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Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M5) vs Apple iPad Air (5th generation)
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M5) ($1,199) vs Apple iPad Air (5th generation) ($237) — side-by-side specs, weight, pros and cons to help you pick the right pro tablet.
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M5) | Apple iPad Air (5th generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,199 | $237 |
| Weight | 444g | 461g |
| Chip | M5 | M1 |
| Display | 11" Ultra Retina XDR tandem OLED | 10.9" Liquid Retina, 60Hz |
| Thickness | 5.3 mm | — |
| Security | Face ID | — |
| Accessories | Apple Pencil Pro, Magic Keyboard | — |
| Weight | 444 g (Wi-Fi) | 461g (Wi-Fi, Apple published) |
| Ports | — | USB-C |
| Pencil | — | Apple Pencil (2nd generation) |
| Audio | — | Landscape stereo speakers |
Pros & Cons
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M5)
- Full Pro display and chip under a pound
- One-handed reading is actually comfortable
- Fits bags the 13-inch cannot
- $300 less than the 13-inch
- Cramped for serious illustration
- Still $1,199 before accessories
- Same iPadOS limits as the 13-inch
Apple iPad Air (5th generation)
- M1 for around two hundred dollars
- 461g and a laminated display
- USB-C
- Still fully supported by iPadOS
- 60Hz
- Only 64GB on the base model, which is tight
- Second-generation Pencil, not Pencil Pro
- Single rear camera
Apple iPad Air (5th generation) is the better value at $237. If weight matters most, Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M5) carries lighter at 444g. Both are part of our curated pro tablet index — tap through to check current pricing.
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